Target Takes Heat for Gay Marriage Stance

[1]Opponents of same-sex marriage are angered by Target‘s (NYSE:TGT[2]) decision to sell T-shirts to benefit a group working to end Minnesota’s ban on gay marriage, The Associated Press[3] reports.

“Target is attacking traditional marriage, which is an incredibly misguided thing for them to have done,” Chuck Darrell, spokesman for Minnesota for Marriage, a group campaigning to pass the constitutional marriage amendment, told the AP. “It’s an insult to the overwhelming majority of their customers.”

The T-shirt promotion, which could bring in up to $120,000 for the Family Equality Council, comes two years after the Minnesota-based retailer angered gay marriage supporters by donating $150,000 to a campaign group backing a same-sex marriage opponent in the state’s gubernatorial race.

“Target is pleased to be able to bring our guests products they want while, in turn, helping support the LGBT community through the donation of 100 percent of the purchase price to the Family Equality Council,” the company told the AP in a statement noting its long-standing support of the gay community.

The T-shirt sales initiative is the big-box store’s second promotion to benefit a nonprofit organization. Last year, Target sold limited-edition plush dogs to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Darrell told AP that Minnesota for Marriage does not have plans to take organized action against Target. Although he is asking supporters of traditional marriage to counter Target’s T-shirt promotion by donating $12.99 — the cost of a tee — to his organization.